so the herb extraction described using the 105F as appropriate is not necessarily appropriate for the ganja. Their assertion re:enzyme destruction are not valid for ganja. I totally understand that. It might be exactly why the previous methods attempted have given less than stellar results. The extraction temp needs to be higher. Would you please mind sharing with me your thinking in regards to the 178?
An interesting number but I'm am curious of your thoughts.
back in 2002 I had 300 lb.'s of trim from 3 other growers to mess around with of all different kinds of strains.
They wanted oils made
tinctures and butter made
hash made etc.
I tried a few different procedures.... using a few different temps (100-150, and 220-250) on the first fifty lb.'s with less than desirable results all around......
I had a batch of oil and a batch of butter going (was going to try for 166 degrees for 20 minutes to see how that would work out)
Came out perfectly (both batches)
Tried it again and again with no success..... when I realized the thermometer I used was broken and the temp was actually ten degrees or so higher.
So I tried it at 175.... came out almost perfect
so I tried 180........ not quite as good
then one of the growers came in to pick up some batches and said..... "OI, didn't you know 178 is the magic number"
got a digi thermometer, 178 IS the magic number lol.....
Did some research, and it turns out that at 178 degrees the desired oils/resins etc. in cannabis are actually in the transition state of activating that allows it to completely infuse with whatever your binding it too! any higher and the oils slowly evaporate away (the higher you go the faster they evaporate), any lower and they won't fully "melt in" as I like to call it.
Even works with water to make a tea!
the amount of time you let it "simmer" is based on the amount your making.
I have also found that a good amount of THC D9 and CBD's are lost during the straining process because of rapid cooling (sticking) (about 12-15 percent depending on what you strain with, so if you use kief, no need to strain, no extra loss.....